28 Glorious Color Photos Of Ladies Sunbathing On The South Shore In The 1940s
Doris Irwin, a stewardess of American Airlines, takes in a tan and a cigarette on Lake Michigan Shore<br>
![Doris Irwin, a stewardess of American Airlines, takes in a tan and a cigarette on Lake Michigan Shore<br>]()
The notes from this photo taken July 5, 1945 say, "Big fleecy clouds in blue sky above 55 St. Promontory."<br>
![The notes from this photo taken July 5, 1945 say, "Big fleecy clouds in blue sky above 55 St. Promontory."<br>]()
Maria Grygier at Promontory Point Park on Sep. 3, 1949<br>
![Maria Grygier at Promontory Point Park on Sep. 3, 1949<br>]()
The sunbathing masses at the "foot of 67th St." on Sunday, June 29, 1941<br>
![The sunbathing masses at the "foot of 67th St." on Sunday, June 29, 1941<br>]()
Mary Martin in September 1944<br>
![Mary Martin in September 1944<br>]()
This photo was taken June 17, 1944 at Promontory Point Park<br>
![This photo was taken June 17, 1944 at Promontory Point Park<br>]()
A woman identified as Annette reads on June 23, 1942<br>
![A woman identified as Annette reads on June 23, 1942<br>]()
A woman identified as Anni at Promontory Point on July 1941<br>
![A woman identified as Anni at Promontory Point on July 1941<br>]()
Women at Promontory Point Park on July 30, 1941<br>
![Women at Promontory Point Park on July 30, 1941<br>]()
An Englewood hospital student nurse winds up and throws rocks on the lake front on June 6, 1945<br>
![An Englewood hospital student nurse winds up and throws rocks on the lake front on June 6, 1945<br>]()
A woman identified as Mrs. Schneider poses on a rock on Promontory Point Park on Aug. 24, 1941<br>
![A woman identified as Mrs. Schneider poses on a rock on Promontory Point Park on Aug. 24, 1941<br>]()
Three women and a man at Promontory Point Park
on July 1941<br>
![Three women and a man at Promontory Point Park
on July 1941<br>]()
Doris May wears a hulu skirt, then poses on a rock near Lake Michigan<br>
![Doris May wears a hulu skirt, then poses on a rock near Lake Michigan<br>]()
Sunbathers at 55th St. Promontory in 1941<br>
![Sunbathers at 55th St. Promontory in 1941<br>]()
Promontory Point Park on June 25, 1941<br>
![Promontory Point Park on June 25, 1941<br>]()
Promontory Point Park on June 27, 1941<br>
![Promontory Point Park on June 27, 1941<br>]()
High schoolers on vacation at Promontory Point on June 27, 1941<br>
![High schoolers on vacation at Promontory Point on June 27, 1941<br>]()
Sunbathing in Jackson Park in July 1941<br>
![Sunbathing in Jackson Park in July 1941<br>]()
A woman at Promontory Point on Sep. 7, 1941<br>
![A woman at Promontory Point on Sep. 7, 1941<br>]()
This was taken on July 1, 1942<br>
![This was taken on July 1, 1942<br>]()
Sunbathing and fishing on Promontory Point Park on July 18, 1942<br>
![Sunbathing and fishing on Promontory Point Park on July 18, 1942<br>]()
Eunice Alexander at Promontory Point Park on Aug. 15, 1942<br>
![Eunice Alexander at Promontory Point Park on Aug. 15, 1942<br>]()
A woman at 67th St. Beach on June 1944<br>
![A woman at 67th St. Beach on June 1944<br>]()
A photograph taken somewhere in Chicago on June 1944<br>
![A photograph taken somewhere in Chicago on June 1944<br>]()
A woman identified as Mary Jane in June 1944<br>
![A woman identified as Mary Jane in June 1944<br>]()
United Air Lines Stewardess JoCrawford on September 6, 1945<br>
![United Air Lines Stewardess JoCrawford on September 6, 1945<br>]()
This woman is identified as a "young Bohemian woman" in a photo from July 31, 1946<br>
![This woman is identified as a "young Bohemian woman" in a photo from July 31, 1946<br>]()
Jean Neil on September 5, 1946<br>
![Jean Neil on September 5, 1946<br>]()
Charles Cushman was an amateur photographer who got into color photography in 1938, long before it became popular. He left behind an archive of 14,500 Kodachrome slides from his travels around the world, and many from Chicago where he made his home for decades. He seemed to particularly enjoy shooting the local flora, circus acts that rolled into town and ladies sunbathing on South Shore beaches.
During the summers of the 1940s, Cushman would head out to Jackson Park, Promontory Point and other South Shore beached and shoot women (all photogenic, young and well-dressed) catching some rays along Lake Michigan. It's a treat seeing those 1940s bathing suit fashions, like bikinis, which had only recently become popular. There are also some pretty swanky-looking turbans, one hulu skirt and some victory rolls.
Cushman was born in Poseyville, Indiana in 1896, and he attended Indiana University, which now hosts his archives. He later moved to Chicago, where he enlisted in the Navy, worked for the railroad and other private companies, including Montgomery Ward and LaSalle Extension University in Chicago. Cushman died in 1972, and his photos nearly ended up in the trash heap until a photo researcher saved them, NPR says.
Little is known of him, according to his brief university bio: "It is known that Charles enjoyed attending the opera and the theater, and presenting shows of his slide collection. After moving to San Francisco sometime in the 1950s he would enjoy having a five o'clock drink while overlooking the ocean."
Related:
35 Vibrant Color Photos Of Chicagoans In The 1940s
